Combination ironing-board and step-ladder.



B. C. FRANCIS.

COMBINATION IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21,1912.

1,051,959. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

firm/es? E a/mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nnnnsr c. FRANCIS, or PINE Riven, MINNESOTA.

COMBINATION IRONTING-IBOABD AND' STEP-LADDER.

Patented Feb 1,1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine River, in the county of Cass and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Ironing-Boards and Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its primary object a simple and eflicient construction of device which may be used as an ironing board or as a step ladder, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the device may be easily converted from one of these appliances to the other, as required, and the invention consists in the constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts that will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following de scription and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my dev ce arranged as an ironing board or table, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device arranged as a step ladder. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fi 1.

(iorresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the accompanying drawingv by like reference characters.

My improved combination ironing board and step ladder includes a pair of legs 1 which are connected at one end by a cross bar 2 to which is hinged one end of a board 3, said board being designed in one position of the parts to be used as an ironing board and in another position of the parts to be used as a brace or standard of a step ladder. The legs 1 are formed with longitudinally extending slots i to receive set screws 5, the set screws working in openings formed in laterally spaced stiles 6 which are connected together by cross rods 7 and which are provided with steps 8, whereby the stiles 6 and their connecting steps may be used as a ladder.

The stiles 6 are provided with outwardly projecting straps 9 which are designed to receive the relatively free ends of the legs 1, as will be hereinafter more fullly described.

My invention also includes a base frame 10 which embodies legs 11 connected at one end by a cross bar 12 and formed with longitudinally extending slots 13 adapted to receive set screws 14 working in openings in the ends of the stiles 6. At this point it will be understood that when the devlce is to be used as an ironing board, the stiles 6 are disposed horizontally as best illustrated in Fig. l, the set screws being tightened in the slots 4 and 12?), respectively, and the legs 1 and 11 being disposed in relatively vertical positions with the board 3 in horizontal position, its free end resting upon the cross bar 12. When the device is to be used as a step ladder, the legs 1 have their relatively free ends slipped into 'the straps9, the cross bar 2 becomes the top of the step ladder, and the frame 10 is swung upon the set screws 14 as pivots and latches 15 carried by the legs 11 are engaged with keepers or eyes 16 secured to the relatively free end of the board 3, which latter serves as a brace or strut for the device when the parts are arranged in this position. It will be noted that owing to the slots 13 and set screws 14 of the frame 10, the base constituted by said frame ma be adjusted, whereby the ladder proper vwiiich is formed by the stiles 6, cross rods 7 and steps 8 may be dis posed at difierent inclinations, as desired,

and will at all times be held rigid and not liable to be easily overturned.

To convert the device from a step ladder to an ironing board, the latches 15 are disengaged from the keepers 16 and the set screws 5 and 1a loosened. Then the frame 10 is swung about the setscrews 1s as ivots to a position at right angles to the st es 6; the cross bar 12 passing under the ends of said stiles during this movement. Next the legs 1 are withdrawn from the straps 9 and swung about the set screws 5 at right angles to the stiles 6. This brings the legs'l'l and 1 parallel and at right angles to the board '3 and stiles 6. When the legs are disposed in a vertical plane the free end of the board 3 will rest on the cross bar 12 and by tightening the set screws 5 and 14c in the lower ends of the slots 1 and 13 respectively, a firm structure is secured.

While the accompanying drawing illustrates what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and. proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

5. ing skirts or the like on the board will be facilitated.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim: 1. A device of the character described, in-

10 eluding legs, a cross bar connected to said legs at one end thereof, a board pivotally connected to the cross bar, the legs being provided with longitudinal slots, set screws working in said slots, stiles connected to said set screws at one end, a frame embodying legs formed with longitudinal slots, set screws mounted in the slots of the second named legs, a cross bar connecting said second named legs together, the set screws 20 working in the other ends of the stiles, and

means for detachably connecting the second named legs to the board.

2. A device of the character described, including a board, a cross bar hingedly connected at one end to the board, legs secured to said cross bar and formed with longitudinal slots, set screws accommodated in said slots, stiles connected at one end to said set screws, set screws connected to the otherends of the stiles, other legs formed with longitudinal slots for the accommodation of the second named set screws, and latches arranged to detachably connect the second named legs to the board.

In testimony whereofl hereunto afiix my signature in the resence of two witnesses. ERNEST C. FRANCIS. Witnesses:

EUGENE L. FORBES, B. E. WIDEMAN. 

